Response Surface method to optimise phenolic compounds extraction from peels of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Opuntia stricta (Haw.) and antioxidant characterization

Author(s) Noura Hamadache, Walid Zeghbib, Asma Ourabah, Nawel Adjeroud and Fares Boudjouan
Year: 2026
Month: May
Volume: 68
Pages: 59-74

This study aimed to optimize the extraction of phenolic compounds from the cultivated species

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (OFI) and the wild species Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. (OS) peels

aqueous extract and to evaluate their antioxidant potential. Box-Behnken experimental design and

Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were used to study the effects of extraction parameters

(Temperature, sample to solvent ratio and time). The total phenolic compounds (TPC) varied

between 7620.43-9973.90 mg GAE/100 g DM for OFI and 485.04-652.38 mg GAE/100 g DM for

OS. The models showed high coefficients of determination (R² = 0.950 for OFI and 0.905 for OS),

ensuring their adequacy. Optimal conditions were found at 90 °C, 0.55 g/100 mL, and 14.33 min

for OFI and 64.07 °C, 0.5 g/100 mL, and 6.17 min for OS, leading to 10002.63 and 621.02 mg

GAE/100 g DM, respectively. Antioxidant assays indicated that OFI showed higher Trolox

equivalent antioxidant capacity (4040.69 mg TE/100 g DM) and ferric reducing power (5140.55

mg TE/100 g DM), while OS showed higher nitric oxide scavenging activity (51.93-%). UV-Vis

and FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of phenolics and other bioactive molecules in both

extracts. Opuntia peels are underexploited sources of phenolic antioxidants, with promising

opportunities for valorization in functional food and health-related applications.